Gusset ironing attachment



April 7, 1942.

,GUSSET IRONTNG ATTACHMENT \Fil ed May 11, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVYENTOR JEWEL B. WILLIAMS.

J %TO%%YS. l

.1. B. WUILLLIAMS 2,278,959

Ap 1942- I "J. B. WILLIAMS 2,278,959.

GUSSET IRONING ATTACHMENT ATTOR April 7, 1942. J. B. WIDLIAMS GUSSET IRONING ATTACHMENT Filed M 11, 19,59 4 Sheets-Shet 3 FIG-4 n m l B F mma |NVENTOR JEWEL B. WILLIAMS p 1942- "J. B. WILLIAIQS 2,278,959

GUSSET IRONING ATTACHMENT Filed May 11, 1939 4' Sheets-Sheet 4 Fla-lo INVENTOR JEWEL B. WILLIAMS ATTORN Patented Apr. 7, 194 2 UNETE STTES orrlce GUSSET IRONING ATTACHMENT Application May 11, 1939, Serial No. 272,993

17 Claims.

This invention relates to the drying and ironing of the gusset and gathered portions of the sleeves of men's shirts and like articles of wearing apparel.

The gusset is that portion of the sleeve which extends from the open side of the cuff upwardly for a short distance along the forearm, while the gathered portion includes the excess sleeve material gathered into the cuff, usually on that side opposite to the gusset. These two sleeve portions always have been difficult to finish properly without additional hand or machine ironing after the sleeve itself has been ironed.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved sleeve ironing machine which takes care of and properly finishes the gusset and gathers in the same operation and at the same time with the sleeve itself, doing away with any necessity for subsequent steps of hand or machine ironing.

Another object is to provide a sleeve ironing machine embodying an expanding sleeve form equipped with supplementary devices or attachments by means of which both the gusset and gathers may be finished While on the form, both thereof being held in close contact with the form for the purpose of receiving a finishing or ironing eifect therefrom, and the gusset being clamped with sufficient force to resist the pull and consequent possible distortion by expansion of the form.

A further object is to provide an improved sleeve ironing machine capable of simple and convenient manipulation and control by the operator and so arranged that the production of pressure upon the gusset and gathers is consequent upon registration with them of the holding or clamping devices.

A further object is to provide a machineof this kind in which the work holdingand finishing parts are so mounted as to be convenient for access by the operator, while the operating parts of the mechanism are out of the way and are protected against injury, but nevertheless are the holding devices to the gusset and gathers,

and the production of pressure thereby, are power actuated but controlled by operator operated devices, preferably of the foot pedal type, so that the operators hands are employed entirely in arranging thesleeves upon the form and are not required to perform any control operhereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a side elevation from the right, partly broken out and in section, the dot and dash lines indicating the sleeve form expanded and one of the holding devices in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation, corresponding to Fig. 1, illustrating a sleeve and gusset applied to the left hand sleeve form facing the machine;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, also partly broken out and in section;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view, corresponding to Fig. 4, showing one of the forms with the work holding devices in operating position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental detail view, illustrating the meshing relationship of the pinions illustrated in Fig.5;

Fig. '7 is a front elevation, on a reduced scale,

showing the sleeves of a shirt dressed on the forms, with the holding devices in operating position;

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional plan view on the line 88, Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional plan view on the line 99, Fig. 1; and Figs. 10 and 11 are detail sectional elevations taken respectively on the lines Ill-JD Referring to Fig. l, the sleeve ironing machine illustrated comprises a suitable frame I of open form and arranged to support various parts of the operating mechanism as will appear, and provided at its top with a table portion 2 to support any hanging parts of the work from contact with the machine frame; Rising from the rear part of the table is a guard 3 of sheet metal which likewise shields the work against that part of the mechanism which rises above the table. Behind said guard are located a series of rigid upright pillars 4 which serve to supportthe upper parts of the mechanism.

Above the table top and in front of the shield 3 are located two expansible sleeve forms, one for the right sleeve and the other for the left. Since they are otherwise duplicates, the same reference numerals will be applied to both parts and description of onewill sufiice for both.

Each sleeve form comprises a relatively stationary part 5 at the rear, mounted immovably upon the frame, and in front of it a movable part 6 pivotally mounted at 1 upon the upper end of a lever arm 8 carried by a transverse shaft 9 mounted in bearings on the frame and provided with a depending operating arm In. The pivotal mounting of member 6 at the point 1 permits said member to be self-accommodating to the work as it expands therein from the full line to the dot and dash line positions shown in Fig. 1.

In operation expanding movement (toward the operator) of the front member 6 is produced by a tension spring ll applied to lever l0, and shown as extending from the lower end of said lever to a hook [2 on the frame, while contracting movement of the form is produced by power means under the control of. the operator, and shown as a fluid pressure operated servo-motor I3 mounted in the frame, and the piston rod M of which operates a cross head l5 slidable upon guide rods 16 and provided with a roller I! work ing against an abutment plate l8 fastened to lever l (see Figs. 8 and 1).

Each movable expanding form member 6 is biased toward expanding position by the spring H, but may be withdrawn to retracted position by energization of the servo-motor l3. One operating mechanism operates the two forms, the shaft 9 being provided with one lever arm I!) and two levers 8.

Each of the two members of the sleeve form, the fixed member and the movable member 6, is heated in any suitable manner, such as by steam circulated through the fixed member by way of conduits I9 and through the movable member by flexible conduits 20.

The sleeves 2| of a shirt 22 are dressed upon the expanding sleeve forms in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 7, with the open gussets of the two sleeves facing each other, Fig. 2 illustrating the cuff end of a sleeve applied to the left hand form in Fig. 7, looking at it from the right. With sleeves so dressed upon the forms, the mechanism provides two padded holding and ironingplates adapted to be moved into engagement with, and each applied with the proper degree of pressure to, the opposite sides of the sleeve adjacent to its cuff, one plate to the gusset and the other plate to the gathered portion of the sleeve. The gather holding plates are marked 23 and the gusset holding plates 24. The two plates are alike in shape and form and for the most part their operating mechanisms are alike, differing only in certain details, as will appear.

Each plate is mounted at the forward end of an arm 26 carried by a short vertically extend ing stub shaft 21 mounted in a carriage 28 mounted for reciprocating fore and aft motion (toward and from the sleeve form and the operator) in a stationary sub-frame 29 mounted on the upper end'of two of the aforesaid posts or pillars 4. For ease of operation and to reduce friction, each carriage is provided with small wheels or rollers 30 travelling in tracks 3| of said sub-frame. To operate each carriage the carriage is provided with a depending yoke 32, between the arms of which works a roller 33 on the end of one arm of a bell crank lever 34 pivoted at 35 on a bracket 36 carried by the pillars 4, the secondarm 31 of said lever including a mass of metal and serving as a counterweight. and being pivotally connected at 38 to a link 39.

The two shafts 21 are interconnected by intermeshing pinions 49, the teeth and recesses of which are so formed as to provide clearance between teeth, as shown in Fig. 6, to permit relative motion between the two holding and ironing plates 26, as will later appear. The intermeshing relation insures that the two plates have equal return movement when released from the sleeve forms under the influence of the returning means, preventing any possibility of one of them remaining in contact and the other receiving all return movement.

The two arms 26 carrying the plates 23, 24 are biased to open or separated position by a tension spring 4|, Fig. 4, which interconnects short rear arms or extensions 42 of the arms 26, the relative opening movement being limited by the engagement of abutment portions 43 of said arms, as shown in Fig. 4.

When the holding plates 23, 24 have been advanced, by advance movement of the carriage 28, into registering relation with and opposite to the sleeve form they are to engage, they are moved broadside toward and into pressure engagement with the sleeve form. This isaccomplished for each plate by the end or abutment portion of a finger 44 which engages a wear resisting member, such as a steel insert 45 mounted on the arm 26 which it operates (see Fig. 5). There are two such fingers 44 for each form, as shown in Fig. 3. One of said fingers, that which operates the gusset holding plate, is a plain, solid, non-yielding finger. The other finger, that which operates the gather holding plate, has its abutment portion 44a in the form of a spring pressed plunger, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when said finger is applied to its arm and pressed against it, the abutment can yield and limit the amount of pressure applied to the gathers to be held by this plate.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the two fingers 44 are in the form of levers mounted on short stub shafts 46 supported in the frame 29, said two fingers being interconnected by intermeshing pinions 41. One of the fingers, that which actuates the gusset plate, is provided with an extension or arm 48 pivotally connected to the upper end of a link 49 which forms the rod of the piston 50 of a fluid pressure servo-motor 5| mounted on the stationary frame and having a piston retracting spring 51a.

The controlling mechanism for the machine is pedal operated, including duplicate control devices for the right and left hand sleeve forms and their gusset and gather holding padded plates.

Each sleeve form is controlled as to its ex panding and contracting movements by a foot pedal 52 on the forward end of one arm 53 of a two-armed lever mounted to turn on a shaft 54, the rear arm 55 of which lever is pivotally connected to a link 56 extending upwardly at an angle and at its upper end provided with a pin 51, Fig. 1, working in a slot 58 of a lever 59 pivoted at 60 in the frame and connected at its outer end to the lower end of the link 39. A counterweight 5| is mounted on said link 56.

When the treadle 52' is depressed lever 59 is turned in the counterclockwise direction Fig. 1, producing similar motion of the bell crank lever 34, 3'! and advancing the carriage 28 to the left in Fig. 1 until the holding plates 23, 24 carried thereby are opposite the gather and gusset portions of the sleeve on its form. This operation occurs while the controlling valve mechanism for the servo motor 5|, shown in Fig. 11, is in the release position there shown, but the parts are so arranged that said valve mechanism is moved to pressure applying position as the plates 23,

24 reach their positions opposite the sleeve form, so as to automatically apply said plates with pressure to the form. For this purpose each link 56 has a threaded portion on which is adjustably mounted an abutment 62, shown as a pair of lock nuts, the upper one of which lies beneath a yoke extension 63 on a two armed lever 64 having abutment portions 65, 66 adapted to operate the stems El, 68 of a normally closed inlet valve 69 and a normally open exhaust valve 10 respectively. ll represents a pipe communicating with a source of supply of fluid pressure, such as compressed air, the valve body 12 including ports and passages for conducting the fluid pressure by way of an adjustable needle valve 13 to the chamber of the inlet valve 66, beyond which, when the valve is open, pressure flows by way of a passage 14 to the chamber of the exhaust valve 16 which communicates by pipe 15 with the appropriate servo-motor 5i. the chamber of exhaust valve 18 is an exhaust port 16. Valve operating lever 64, 65 is sensitive to the efiect of a snap-over spring 11 extending from lever arm 18 to the valve casing,

and said lever also is provided with an arm 19 pivotally connected to a link 86 having a slotted portion 8| in which works a pin 82 mounted on a lever 83 actuated by a release treadle 84.

With the valve parts in the position shown in 'Fig. 11, lever 64, 65 is biased by the spring T! to the release or inoperative position, its abutment 66 engaging the stem of exhaust valve l8 and holding the same open, so that the servo-motor 5| is open to exhaust, and the pressure applying fingers 44 are fully retracted. As the lever 53 completes its movement, and at a time when the holding plates 23, 24 are opposite the sleeve form, the abutment 62, by its elevation of the yoke 63, completes clockwise motion of lever 64, 65 in Fig, 11, and the abutment 65 engages the stem 61 of the inlet valve and opens the same. In the meantime the exhaust valve 18 has closed. Consequently the inlet valve is opened and fluid pressure flows from the source by way of chamber of valve 69 and passage 14 to the chamber of valve 16 and thence by way of pipe 15 to the servo motor 51, causing its piston to move over,

elevate the link 49 and move the two fingers 44 to pressure applying position. Said fingers engage the arms 26, moving them toward each other, against the force of spring 4|. The abutment on the plain finger 44 applies its efiect to the gusset holding plate, with positive pressure, thus producing not only an ironing effect by applying the gusset to the form, but also producing a holding effect with sufiicient strength to resist any tendency of the expansion of the form to open or distort the gusset. The other yieldable finger, however, due to the relative clearance between the teeth of pinions' 40, and

also to the yieldability of the plunger 44a, produces only a light resilient contact of its plate with the form, with only sufiicientpressure to smooth out and iron the gathers on the side of the sleeve.

When the motion of the valve lever 64, 65 is completed, it is biased and held in the pressure applying position by the springs 11, and when the foot is removed from the treadle 53 said treadle and the link 56 return to their original positions, the pin 5! sliding down to the other end of slot 58, but the lever 59, link 39 and lever 34, 31, together with carriage 28, remain in their advanced positions, due to the clamping effect of the plates on the form,

Beyond Having dressed two sleeves upon the forms, one on each, and applied the holding and ironing plates thereto in the manner just described, the operator now expands the forms to complete the ironing operation. This is accomplished by operation of the valve mechanism 9| controlling servo-motor I3, shown in Fig. 10. The Valve mechanism is quite like that employed for each of motors 5|, This mechanism is operated by a pressure producing treadle 85 having an arm 86 connected by a link 81 to a valve operating lever 88 having two abutments adapted respectively to operate the stems of a normally open inlet valve 89 and a normally closed exhaust valve 90. The valve lever is biased in either of its two positions by springs 11a, similar in their operation to the springs 11.

Fig, 10 shows the fluid pressure position of the valve parts, a position in which the servomctor i3 is energized and the sleeve forms are contracted. Pressure flows by way of a pipe 1 la, communicating with the source of supply of fluid pressure, by way of the needle valve 92, and the chamber of the inlet valve 89, thence by way of a passage 93 to the chamber of the exhaust valve 98, and thence by way of pipe 94 to the servo-motor I3. Beyond the exhaust valve 98 is an exhaust port 95.

When the treadle 85 is depressed the valve operating lever 89 moves in the clockwise direction, Fig. 10, first permitting the inlet valve 89 to close, cutting oii the supply of fluid pressure, and then opening the exhaust valve 98, permitting the pressure in servo-motor E3 to be evacuated'by way of the exhaust port 95. Thereupon the spring I i becomes effective to move lever arm iii in the counterclockwise direction Fig. 1, and swinging both lever arms 8 to the left and expanding the forms within the sleeves dressed upon them. The valve parts are biased in their new position by the springs Ila.

When gusset and gathered portions of the sleeve are suificiently ironed the machine is released by depression of the release treadle 84. This treadle is connected to a sleeve 96 pinned to the shaft 54 and provided with two arms, to-wit, the arm 83 before referred to for releasing the left hand servo-motor 5!, and another arm 91 provided with a pin 98 working in a slot 99 of a link we pivotally connected to an arm IBI of the valve operating lever 88. The arm 86a (Fig. 9) for releasing the right hand sleeve form is' carried by a sleeve 96a, likewise pinned to said shaft 54.

As the two valve operating members 64, 65 on the one hand, and 88 on the other, are advanced in the manner before described, the links 88 and H96 are pulled over or to the right in Figs. 11 and 10, and the pins 82 and 98 are now at the left hand ends of their respective slots. Consequently depression of treadle 84 pulls the links 89, 89 to the left and returns the valve operating levers 6t, 65 and 88 to their original positions, shown in Figsll and 10. Consequently pressure flows to the servo motor 43, causing its piston to move over and contract the sleeve holding forms, and pressure is evacuated from the two servomotors 5!, permitting the springs 6! to separate the arms 26 and remove the holding plates from the forms, and also permitting the counterweights H to return the carriages 28 to their original positions. The shirt sleeves can now be removed from the forms and the sleeves of another shirt applied thereto.

As shown in Fig. 9 the several fluid pressure supply pipes H, H and Ha communicate by way of a cross N32 with a common pressure supply pipe H13.

Link 333 and the parts connected thereto are normally biased to the inoperative position shown in Fig. 1 by the effect of the counterweight 31, the downward motion of said link being limited by contact with a padded abutment 104 on the frame of a projecting portion of the lever 59; A tension spring I535 may be provided to snub the movement of this mechanism as it approaches its limit of movement.

Retracting movement of the mechanism for actuating the pressure fingers 4 is produced not only by the gravity eiiect of link 49 but also by the compression spring ela within the servo motor 5|.

In operation, the operator dresses the shirt with its sleeves on the two forms in the manner shown in Fig. 7, bringing the gusset portions of the sleeves to the inside. He then operates one of the treadles 52 to cause the appropriate carriage to advance, bringing its padded pressure plates opposite the gusset and gathered portions of the sleeve. As; they reach this position the appropriate valve mechanism is tripped, pressure flows to the corresponding servo motor 5|, the fingers 44 are actuated, and the padded plates are applied with pressure to the gusset and gathered portions of the sleeve, to the latter yieldingly with sufficient force to apply all of the gathered material to the form so as to completely iron it, and to the former positively and with sufficient force not only to iron the gusset but also to prevent the gusset from opening or becoming distorted. The ironing plates for the second sleeve are applied in like manner by depression of its foot treadle 52. Finally, the pressure treadle 85 is depressed, which evacuates the servo motor 13 and permits the spring I l to expand both forms.

When the ironing operation is completed the release treadle 84 is depressed, which restores both valve mechanisms to their original positions, evacuating the two servo-motors El and supplying pressure to servo motor l3. Thereupon the pressure fingers 34 are withdrawn by their respective springs 5H1. and the carriages 28 are moved back by the weights 31, the form being contracted by energization of the servo motor 13, the mechanism then being in position for use with another shirt.

While I have described the sleeve supporting forms as of the expansible type, the outward expansion of the parts of the form playing its part in the production of ironing pressure, nevertheless expansibility of the form is not essential to the invention and a non-expansible fixed form of ordinary type may be employed. With such a form no springs I! or servo-motor i3 are necessary and they may be omitted, and the entire ironing pressure is produced by the direct effect of the two pressure plates upon the work when they are applied to opposite sides of the form, one to the gussets and the other to the gathers opposite the same.

What I claim is:

1. A sleeve ironing machine, comprising an expansible sleeve supporting form, two pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, means for expanding the form, and means for operating said plates comprising a movable carrier on which said plates are mounted and adapted by its motion to move them into and out of registering relation with said form, each plate being movably mounted upon its carrier for movement into and out of ironing relation with the form.

2. A sleeve ironing machine, comprising an expansible sleeve supporting form, two pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, means for expanding the form, means for operating said plates comprising a movable carrier on which said plates are mounted and adapted by its motion to move them into and out of registering relation with said form, each plate being movably mounted upon its carrier for movement into and out of ironing relation with the form, an operating device for moving both plates upon the carrier, and a yielding connection between said operating device and one only of said plates.

3. A sleeve ironing machine, comprising an expansible sleeve supporting form, operating means controllable by the operator for expanding said form, two pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, a carrier supporting them, operator operated means for advancing said carrier to an operating position with the plates in registering relation with the form, and power means for applying said plates to the form with pressure.

4. A sleeve ironing machine, comprising an expansible sleeve supporting form, operating means controllable by theoperator for expanding said form, two pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, a carrier supporting them, operator operated means for advancing said carrier to an'operating position with the plates in registering relation with the form, power means for applying said plates to the form with pressure, and means controlled in step with carrier motion for causing actuation of said power means.

5. A sleeve ironer, comprising an expansible sleeve supporting form, spring means for expanding the same, power means controllable by the operator for contracting said form, pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, a movable carrier supporting said plates, power means for operating said plates, and operator operated means for actuating said carrier and controlling the 'last named power means.

6. A sleeve ironer, comprising an expansible sleeve supporting form, spring means for ex panding the same, power means controllable by the operator for contracting said form, pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, a movable carrier supporting said plates, power means for operating said plates, and means for energizing said last named power means and deenergizing said first named power means.

7. A sleeve ironer, comprising an expansible sleeve supporting form, means controllable by the operator for expanding the same, pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form and movable by motion in one direction into and out of registering relation therewith, and operating means for said plates to produce a closing movement substantially at right angles to said registering movement and eiiective thereon when they reach registering relation with said form.

8. A sleeve ironer, comprising two associated expansible sleeve supporting forms, a servo motor arranged by its operation to cause expansion or contraction of said forms, a pair of movably mounted pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of each form, operator operated means for moving each pair of plates independently of the other pair into cooperative relation with its form, a servo-motor for applying each pair of plates with pressure to its form, and a single means for controlling all three of said servo motors to release the work.

9. Asleeve ironer, comprising two associate expansible sleeve supporting forms, a servo-motor arranged by its operation to cause expansion or contraction of said forms, a pair of movably mounted pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of each form, operator operated means for moving each pair of plates independently of the other pair into cooperative relation with its form, a servo motor for applying each pair of plates with pressure to its form, a single means for controlling all three of said servo motors to release the work, and a yielding operating connection between one only of each pair of plates and its operating servo motor.

10. A sleeve ironer, comprising two associated expansible sleeve supporting forms, a servo motor arranged by its operation to cause expansion or contraction of said forms, a. pair of movably mounted pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of each form, operator operated means for moving each pair of plates independently of the other pair into cooperative relation with its form, a servo-motor for applying each pair of plates with pressure to its form, a single means for controlling all three of said servo motors to release the work, and means loosely interconnecting the two plates of each pair for conjoint operation.

11. A sleeve ironer, comprising two associated expansible sleeve supporting forms, a servomotor arranged by its operation to cause expansion or contraction of said forms, a pair of movably mounted pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of each form, operator operated means for moving each pair of plates independently of the other pair into cooperative relation with its form, a servo motor for applying each pair of plates with pressure to its form, a single means for controlling all three of said servo motors to release the work, means loosely interconnecting the two plates of each pair for conjoint operation, and a yielding operating connection between one only of each pair of plates and its operating servo-motor.

12. A sleeve ironing machine, comprising a sleeve supporting form, two pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, and means for operating said plates comprising a movable carrier on which said plates are mounted and adapted by its motion to move them into and out of registering relation with said form, each plate being movably mounted upon its carrier for movement into and out of ironing relation with the form.

13. A sleeve ironing machine, comprising a sleeve supporting form, two, pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, means for operating said plates comprising a movable carrier on which said plates are mounted and adapted by its motion to move them into and out of registering relation with said form, each plate being movably mounted upon its carrier for movement into and out of ironing relation with the form, an operating device for moving both plates upon the carrier, and a yielding connection between said operating deviceand one only of said plates.

14. A sleeve ironing machine comprising an expansible sleeve-supporting form, two pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, means for moving said plates into registering position with said form, power means for applying said plates to the form with pressure, said plates being loosely coupled for simultaneous movement, the operating means for one only of said plates including a yielding member.

15. A sleeve ironer comprising an expansible sleeve-supporting form, means controllable by the operator for expanding the same, pressure plates adapted for application to, opposite sides of said form and movable into and out of registering relation therewith, pivotally mounted plate-carrying arms, operating means for said plates externally located with reference to said form and said plates, and movable inwardly against said plate carrying arms when said plates reach registering relation with said form, whereby said plates are advanced into registering contact with said form.

16. A sleeve ironer comprising an expansible sleeve-supporting form, means controllable by the operator for expanding the same, pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, and movable into and out of registering relation therewith, pivotally mounted plate-carrying arms, operating means for said plates externally located with reference to said form and said plates, and movable inwardly against said plate carrying arms when said plates reach registering relation with said form, and operator operated means for advancing said plates into registering relation, and adapted then to energize said operating means whereby said plates are moved into ironing relation with said form.

17. A sleeve ironing machine comprising a sleeve-supporting form, two pressure plates adapted for application to opposite sides of said form, power means for applying said plates to the form, with pressure, said plates being loosely ,coupled for simultaneous movement, the operating means'for one only of said plates including a yielding member.

I JEWEL B. WILLIAMS. 

